Parrots are cool. They are also one hell of a lot of work.

I’ve been doing some research on blogging, popular blogs, and the ever-popular “Mommy Blog.” This “Mommy Blog” subject seems to be the type of blog that’s the most popular and gets the most traffic.

“Dooce,” and “Pioneer Woman,” seem to lead the pack, with other blogs written by stay-at-home Moms, (Otherwise known in the business as “SAHMs.” Amazing what you learn…) who will entice you in for other reasons. Some have crap to sell. Some have discounts or coupons for crap or review crap. Some just bitch about crap. I always learn something despite my lack of interest in the genre.

Interesting descriptions for these “Mommy Blogs” include this one:

“The Ramblings Of A Prissy, Primped-to-perfection Belle Turned Neurotic, Obsessive Mama That Barely Has Time To Shower. We Are Living Our Lives For Christ, Going Green And Learning A Lot!”

As my friend Lynn is known to say, “Well, all-righty then!” I simply think that’s a hell of a lot of ground to cover.

There is one titled,

“The Life of a Sippy Cup Mom!”

Good God. And just so you know, the exclamation point is not mine.

Here’s an interesting one:

“Single Mom Talks About Life With A 2 Year Old Super-sidekick…juggling Single Parenthood, Dating After Divorce, Food Allergies, And Trying To Lose 100lbs!”

Whoah! Lots of ground there. And once again, the exclamation point is not mine.

So I began thinking about this. I don’t have kids. Never really wanted kids. Never really occurred to me to have kids. Never got pregnant. Not sure I ever could, actually. (My Father was an only child. My Mother had two kids ten years apart, and that was rough to get to. My cousin only had one daughter. I don’t come from a family where kids were just popping out every five minutes.)

But my birds? My dog? My friends? That’s a pretty nice family.

While I realize that a hell of a lot more people have kids than parrots, I was simply stunned by the sheer number of Mommy Blogs. Yet, many of them are making money through advertising. If I’d known I could write about kids and being a Mom, maybe I would have…Nawwww! That wouldn’t have happened. Who I am kidding?

Now, I haven’t looked at this one, but this is intriguing:

“How I Escaped A Marriage To A Sociopath. I’m Real. I’m Not Always Perfect. I Whine A Lot And I Crush On Guys Like It’s Crack.”

I noticed she didn’t use an exclamation point. Apparently, she wasn’t too thrilled about escaping a marriage from a sociopath. I certainly would be. Actually, I’d probably be happier about that than being a “Sippy Cup Mom.”

I do know that some of these blogs make a lot of money. A LOT of money. Mine does not make a LOT of money. Mine doesn’t even make a little money. It actually costs me money for the media space and video gigabytes, which is not included. (Kind of like batteries.) But I don’t care. I’m really good at cooking beans, and saving money. (See my post about Saving Money.)

As I’ve said before, there’s more to this than income. I’m really interested in getting good information out to people who are unaware of a few things. Like the fact that an all-seed diet for parrots blows. Such as the fact that enrichment and interaction with your birds is crucial for their well-being. You know, subjects that don’t interest those running in the “Sippy Cup Crowd.” But that’s okay. I mean after all, nobody can say I don’t have three “Crumb Crushers” of my own.

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Patricia Sund

Patricia Sund is a Free-Lance Writer residing in Florida with her three African Greys. She has been published in About.com, Bird Talk Magazine, Birds USA, In Your Flock Magazine, Good Bird Magazine as well as numerous websites and newsletters. She is currently doing research for a book titled "Parrot Nation".

16 thoughts on “This is Not a “Mommy Blog,” But At Least Their Kids Grow Up”

I think you need to use more exclamation points for starters. Damn.,.I didn’t see that “Saving Money” link in time, I just broke down and ordered a double Java stand, which I think will fit in the main room, not, of course, that I did anything like measure. (Actually, the space I have in mind was, on the blue prints for the house, listed as “dining room” but you know, if you have a dining room table, next thing you know, people expect dinner invitations.) I was also never interested in having kids, and while parrots are also loud and messy, at least they never want to borrow your car.

Judith,
Your comments make me want to use exclamation points…Almost. As far as the java stand goes, if it doesn’t fit, you must commit; (at least to Ebay.) And J? This is for you: (!)
My dining room table resides under my bed because I have parrot “rooms” (cages) where the table used to be. If people have dinner at my house, they do what I do. Sit on the couch and eat at the coffee table. Well, there’s always the floor…

Yo, Lady!
I thank you so much! I appreciate the compliment as my blog is a “Chop Shop” sort of place where I have to get it in and blow it out the door in a hurry. I have two full time jobs, three parrots and a dog and I don’t have time to be futzing around with fine-tuning videos. I wish I did. I estimate that if i had a cleaning lady two or three hours a day, someone to do my laundry, and an editor, this place would be gussied up in a hurry. Maybe some day. But thanks again for being so kind. The way I feel about Mommy blogs reminds me of Murphy Brown’s reaction to the idea of breast feeding her newborn: “Oh God, this is weird! My body is making milk! This is like discovering one day that you can get bacon out of your elbow!”

You are an amazing woman! I, too, have never had kids and don’t miss it a bit. After all, my furry and feathered “kids” give me all the love, challenges, and mommy chores/tasks that any human child could. They drain my energy and budget, but fill my heart with a love like no other.

Actually, Michelle, I like my birds more now that I write about them. I don’t know what it is. It’s as if now that their lives go into type, I can see their attributes a little clearer.
Thanks for the compliment, but I think I’d be more amazing if I could get my laundry done more often!

oh my………..I didn’t know their blogs made $$$…..hell I thought they just did it for their sanity…..I survived what I like to call “the mommy years”…..the years where you look 10 years older than you actually are…..never wear makeup and obsess about every little detail of your childs life. As much as I love my son, and he did turn out well!…….I am so glad I am done with my “mommy years”. Now I’m just dog obsessed…..

I often wonder what happens to women who make 99% of their life about their children after the children leave. I think Mommy Blogs are probably similar to Weight Loss Blogs, lots of consoling with not alot of progress. As far as how important parents see their job, someone is raising all those a$$hats out there, are you sure it’s not you? Sorry Patricia, I am soapboxing on your blog lol

I don’t see myself as a pet parent, afterall I can leave my cats with 2 giant bowls of food and water then take off for the weekend. Pretty sure I’d get arrested for that with human children. That doesn’t make the commitment any less for me, at the end of the day I am responsible for their health, happiness and making sure they are well-adjusted.

My Mom says the measure of your success as a parent is ‘did you raise someone that other people want to be around?’. To some extent, you can apply that to your pets as well.

Tonya,
Here, you can borrow my soapbox. It’s a bit dusty because I don’t use it much, but have at it.
I don’t look at my birds as “children.” I have enough respect for them to treat them for what they are. But my audience at Bird Talk doesn’t necessarily do the same and some really do view their birds as their children. Just because my birds can talk, doesn’t make them human kids.
And Pepper is 21 years old. I treat her like the experienced and gracious bird that she is. She’s not a child.
And I realize that they will most likely be around long after I’m gone. So I train them and work with them with that in mind; knowing that they will have to get along in another situation. I mean, don’t you raise a child with the idea that they will be independent some day? If you don’t, I can’t imagine the consequences.

Although I am only 25, I decided several months ago that I don’t want kids. My African grey took until she was almost 6 months old to get weaned from the syringe. I’ve heard kids take twice that long and their poop is a LOT bigger. Plus, to me it just wouldn’t be fair for my grey either, or to any other birds I may foster/adopt/otherwise acquire along the way. My dream is to some day have a greenwing macaw and an umbrella cockatoo, in addition to my African grey AND whatever conure my husband chooses-he likes small birds while I like larger birds. I am on board with you about those ridiculous mommy blogs, totally. Think of it this way though: even if they ARE making a lot of money from those sites, I hardly doubt it’s enough to totally support the children. You might have to pay for yours, but you’ll be thankful when Parker and Pepper and Nyla grow up and you don’t have to pay their college tuition bills!

HEy Patricia
I liked your blog entry. Not only am I parent of birds, but I’m a parent of a sippy-cupper. Never once have I invested time nor energy to mommy blogs. They’d just remind me if the mommy-isms I’m not doing, supposed to be doing or whatever. I keep it real trying to compare and contrast the difference between parrots and 2-4 year olds. Often times, there isn’t a difference. Both make messes, both demand and must have enrichment, both think I make a great jungle gym. The biggest thing to remember is that if you have kids, keep the birds! Keep the cat! Keep the dog. Treat them like a kid in that you just wouldn’t give a kid away because you were moving, right? Or would you?

Hi Patricia,
You are one of a kind, and we love you dearly, for all you do for our wonderful feathered friends, (and other animals). You are amazing just the way you are. You make me laugh, sometimes cry, with your wonderful writings, and your amazing trips. Some times I feel I am part of your family and right there with you. (sometimes I wish I was with you on some of your trips).

I have 5 amazing birds, and I just keep learning so much from you for their health and some times my sanity. ha, ha.

I am a mother, grandmother, and now a bird owner, I really am not too sure there is much difference between them.

I love all the comments from others to you, they to make me laugh when I read what they say, knowing I am not alone with what goes on with my family of birds. I do have to say though, my 30 year old Severe Macaw, I adopted a couple of years ago was a big challange for me to learn about him. We are still learning about each other, but now there is a lot of love that goes along with it.

Thank you Patricia, for you being you and doing what you do for us!!!!! We are a fan to you, Parker, Pepper, Nyle and Mattie!!!!